Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) today launched a Software Technology Initiative (STI) that will develop solutions to quickly integrate large-scale, distributed systems of newly developed, legacy and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software.

As the military services shift from platform- to network-centric systems - from independently operating planes, ships and missiles to increasingly complex and diverse computing infrastructures - it often is necessary to integrate stovepiped systems built over many decades. Industry is addressing the resulting integration challenge with COTS software and other techniques intended to reduce costs, improve time to market and accommodate subsequent technology shifts. However, effective integration remains a very difficult challenge, affecting system availability, interoperability, cost and time.

The STI will host some of the most talented engineers from Lockheed Martin, from other companies and from top-ranked universities to develop, integrate and test a broad range of advanced, integrated software solutions. Lockheed Martin's Integrated Systems & Solutions business area is the initial program customer and sponsor of the initiative.

According to Lockheed Martin ATL Director James Marsh, the STI will eventually embrace a broader customer base. "As we become established, we intend to support major programs in Lockheed Martin's Electronic Systems, Space Systems, Aeronautics, and Information & Technology Services business areas," he said. "We then expect to expand to serve an external customer set, including the Department of Defense, National Institute of Standards & Technology, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

The initiative will initially create five to eight engineering positions at Lockheed Martin ATL in Cherry Hill, NJ. Most staff members will hold advanced degrees in computer science and related disciplines. Marsh said the decision to base the STI at ATL was based on the Laboratories' 75-year legacy of developing and transitioning enabling technologies into programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, DD(X) Next-Generation Destroyer and Aegis Weapons System.

The Advanced Technology Laboratories is Lockheed Martin's applied research and development center of excellence for advanced computing and integration solutions. The unit's focus areas are autonomy and teaming, network-centric operations, situation understanding, cognitive computing, information exploitation, advanced networking, advanced signal and embedded processing, and wireless communication.

A nine-member Advisory Board - with members from Lockheed Martin and its STI partners - will oversee the Initiative's direction and goals.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories